Poland: ZAKSA tie semifinal series vs. Aluron with a clear straight sets win

After the misstep in Game 1, regular season leaders and CEV Champions League finalist (and titleholders)
ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle is back and, with a clear straight sets win ((20:25, 21:25, 21:25), tie the series against Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie 1-1.
Coach Cretu’s side dominated the duel in blocking (11-4), as well as in attack (64% and 54% efficiency vs. 54% and 31% efficiency), led by a great Semeniuk (19 points, 68% and 57% efficiency in attack) and Kaczmarek (58% and 50% efficiency in attack). Decisive also Sliwka, above all from the service line.

First set is balanced until 7-7, and then the hosts suffered Sliwka from the service line: he is the author of the ace of 7-9, then an error in attack from Conte (7-10), a block from Kaczmarek over the same Conte is worth the 7-11, and two counterattacks from Kaczmarek mark the 8-14. Aluron try to react, and they did it until 16-18, but then two blocks from Semeniuk, for the 18-22 and 18-23, break down every attempt to comeback, and Kaczmarek put down the ball of 20-25.

In second set, ZAKSA take advantage of the error of Niemiec and Semeniuk’s block over Konarski for the 1-4 lead. Konarski put down the ball of 11-12, but the guests escape again with a counterattack from Smith, and the block of 11-15. The set is closed by Semeniuk, 21-25.

Balance until 7-6 in third set, but then Aluron collapse again with Sliwka in serving: counterattack from Semeniuk, 7-8, block from Kaczmarek over Kovacevic, 7-9, block from Smith over the same Kovacevic, 7-10, and an error from Tavares, 7-11, replaced by Cavanna. And then another winning block, Smith on Kovacevic for the 7-12. Nothing to do for the hosts, and ZAKSA can close set and game without major difficult with Kaczmarek, 21-25.

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🏐| PLUSLIGA 2021/22 | Playoffs Semifinals

–Game 1—
April 23
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) 1-3 (25:22, 17:25, 22:25, 25:25) Serie: 0-1
• Jastrzebski Węgiel (2) – PGE Skra Belchatów (3) 3-0 (25:14, 30:28, 26:24) Serie: 1-0

–Game 2—

👉🏼 April 26

• Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) – Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) 0-3 (20:25, 21:25, 21:25) Serie: 1-1
Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie: Tavares 2, Kovacevic 19, Zniszczol 3, Konarski 11, Conte 8, Niemiec 4, Zurek (L); Malinowski 1, Orczyk 0, Cavanna 0. Not entered: Depowski, Makos (L), Rajsner, Szalacha. Coach: Kolakovic.
Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle: Janusz 0, Sliwka 8, Smith 7, Kaczmarek 17, Semeniuk 19, Huber 8, Shoji (L); Kluth 0. Not entered: Rejno, Staszewski, Kalembka, Kozlowski, Zalinski, Banach (L). Coach: Cretu.
MVP: Janusz.

• PGE Skra Belchatow (3) – Jastrzebski Wegiel (2) 0-3 (18:25, 22:25, 19:25) Serie: 0-2

–Game 3—

April 30
• Grupa Azoty ZAKSA Kedzierzyn-Kozle (1) – Aluron CMC Warta Zawiercie (4) 3-1 (19:25, 25:21, 25:19, 25:13) Serie: 2-1

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